Carrying strap and line-guiding system for the stationary guiding of wires, cables, or similar

ABSTRACT

The supporting belt ( 1 ) according to this invention of a line guidance unit ( 2 ) for guiding lines, cables or the like is characterized in that the supporting belt ( 1 ) has alternating supporting sections ( 3 ) and articulated sections ( 8 ), and the supporting sections ( 3 ) and the articulated section ( 8 ) are made of materials having different properties by the multicomponent process. With the help of the supporting belt ( 1 ) according to this invention, the line guidance unit ( 2 ) according to this invention, comprising such a supporting belt ( 1 ), as well as the method according to this invention for producing the supporting belt ( 1 ) according to this invention, it is possible to achieve a guidance of lines, cables or the like in a simple, rugged, reliable and inexpensive manner.

The object of this invention relates to a supporting belt for a lineguidance unit, a line guidance unit for guiding lines, cables or thelike and a method of producing a supporting belt.

Modern working machines, whether they perform static and/or dynamicoperations, have a plurality of electric, hydraulic and/or pneumaticinlet and outlet lines, e.g., for controlling movable consumers. Forguiding such lines, in particular from a stationary connection point toa movable consumer, so-called line guidance elements are used.

Line guidance units for guiding lines, cables or the like having a firstend which is arranged in a stationary mount and having a second endwhich is movable are known in numerous embodiments. The classical lineguidance unit, which is also referred to as an energy guidance chainconsists of individual chain links joined together in an articulatedmanner to form a guidance channel. Lines, cables or the like arearranged in this guidance channel.

WO 98/40645 describes a line guidance unit consisting of one-pieceprotective elements made of plastic. The protective element is made byinjection molding or casting in one piece and has parts that areinterconnected by bendable bridges. The protective element has a bottomsegment with a top side and a bottom side and at least one wall segmentwhich can be shaped into a closed channel section by mechanicallyclosing a closing mechanism, whereby the protective element ispreferably connected or connectable to other similar protective elementsso that the channel sections in one longitudinal direction form achannel for lines.

Another embodiment of the line guidance unit is known from EuropeanPatent 0 789 167 A1. This line guidance unit is also used for activeguidance of lines, cables or the like, having a first end, which isarranged in a stationary mount, and having a second end which ismovable. The line guidance unit has a channel formed by segments. Thesegments are connected to a supporting belt. During operation of theline guidance unit, it and thus also the supporting belt form a lowertrunk line and an upper trunk line as well as an area of curvaturebetween the upper and lower trunk lines as illustrated in FIG. 1 of WO98/40645 and in FIG. 13 of European Patent 0789 167 A1.

The diameter of the area of curvature also determines the amount ofspace required for installation of the line guidance unit. In the caseof line guidance arrangements having a relatively small structuralheight, a relatively large amount of space may also be required in viewof the flexural strength of the supporting belt.

Modern work places, especially in large office areas in the industry, inadministration and in commerce require, for example, power andtelecommunications connections in the immediate vicinity of eachworkstation, in particular grounded plug receptacles for electronicdevices, for telephones and computers, light switches, automatic circuitbreakers, surge suppressors and many other devices.

It is known that so-called cable channels and current carrying or otherfeeder lines for electric or electronic equipment mounted or otherwiseplaced on the furniture can be guided in a defined manner on officefurniture such as desks and computer stands or special furniture formusic and film studios, and these cable channels are installed in such away that the cables are not exposed. Such cable channels are used toprotect the cables and also to protect the user of the equipment. Inaddition, such cable channels prevent the device from being torn downfrom the furniture in question.

German Patent 199 15 035 A1 describes a line guidance device for guidingat least one line whereby the line guidance device is composed ofmembers that connect a first and second guidance section of adjacentmembers.

The diameter of the area of curvature also determines the amount ofspace required for installation of the line guidance unit. In the caseof line guidance arrangements having a relatively small structuralheight, a relatively large amount of space may be required in view ofthe flexural strength of the supporting belt.

Against this background, the object of the present invention is toprovide a supporting belt and a line guidance unit with which the spacerequired for installation of the line guidance unit is reduced. Inaddition, a method of producing a supporting belt for reducing the spacerequired for installation of the line guidance unit is to be described.

This object is achieved according to this invention by a supporting belthaving the features of Claim 1, by a line guidance unit having thefeatures of Claim 10 and/or by a method having the features of Claim 24.Advantageous refinements and embodiments, which may be used individuallyor combined in any desired manner are the object of the dependentclaims.

The supporting belt according to this invention for a line guidance unitfor guiding lines, cables or the like is characterized in that thesupporting belt is formed by supporting sections and articulatedsections. The supporting sections and the articulated sections arearranged in alternation. They are formed by materials having differentproperties in the multicomponent method.

This embodiment of the supporting belt according to this inventionachieves the result that the area of curvature which is formed, forexample, in formation of an upper line trunk and a lower line trunk, isrelatively small because only the articulated section with its flexuralrigidity influences this [area of curvature]. The supporting sectionhere may be designed as an essentially rigid body, while the articulatedsection connecting two supporting sections is made of a material whichis very flexible. Through a suitable selection of the material of whichthe articulated section is formed, it is possible for the flexibility ofthe articulated section to be varied, i.e., adapted to the requirementsof the area of curvature of the lines or hoses.

The supporting belt with its supporting sections and articulatedsections is preferably produced by the multicomponent injection method.As an alternative, the supporting sections and the articulated sectionsmay also be produced by the multicomponent extrusion method. If themulticomponent extrusion method is used, then the supporting belt assuch may be extruded. As an alternative, it is also possible to designfirst a blank in the form of a sheet having supporting sections andarticulated sections which are then divided across the direction ofextrusion. This method of producing the supporting belt also has theadvantage that supporting belts of different widths can be produced.

To reduce the inherent weight of the supporting belt and optionally toincrease its strength, it is proposed that at least the supportingsections be designed as profiles, preferably hollow profiles. Inparticular, the design of the supporting sections as hollow profiles hasthe advantage that relatively great savings of material are possible,which is associated with economical production of the supportingsection. In addition, an increased rigidity of the supporting belt isachieved with the design of the supporting belt as a hollow profile.

The supporting belt of a line guidance unit for guiding lines, cables orthe like preferably includes at least two supporting belt sections thatare joined together. Joining several sections together makes it possibleto design supporting belts of any desired length. Furthermore, joiningthe sections in this way makes it possible to adapt the length of thesupporting belt accurately to the respective application according to amodular principle. It is also possible to arrangement multiple sectionsside-by-side and connect them so that this also increases the possiblevariations in the width of the supporting belt and thus the lineguidance unit. In addition, one supporting belt section may also beconnected to at least two other supporting belt sections. This makes itpossible to divide and/or combine the lines, cables or the like guidedin a line guidance unit between at least two line guidance units.

The supporting belt sections are preferably joined together in aform-fitting manner and/or in a frictionally engaged manner. Inparticular it is proposed that the sections be detachably joinedtogether. This detachability yields a particular flexibility in use ofthe supporting belts. In particular, long supporting belts can beshortened again as needed with no problem. As an alternative, thesupporting belt sections may also be inseparably joined together. Thereis the possibility here of joining the supporting belt sections togetherthrough suitable joining means. Joining means include, for example,holding clips. Instead of the use of joining means for designing aninseparable connection of the supporting sections, the supportingsections may also be glued or welded together according to anotherproposal.

In an advantageous embodiment of this invention, the supporting sectionsare trapezoidal and/or rhomboidal in shape. With the help of trapezoidaland/or rhomboidal supporting sections, it is possible to influence thebelt taken up by the supporting belt in three-dimensional space and totailor it to size. In particular, due to the specification of asymmetrical trapezoid, the supporting belt forms a helix, where thepitch of the helix is defined by the angle of the supporting sections toone another. With such a supporting belt, it is possible to securelyguide the lines of a robot arm, for example, which executes a slidingrotational movement, i.e., a combination of a translatory movement and arotational movement. As an alternative, the joint sections may also bedesigned in the form of a trapezoid and/or a rhombus. Due to thetrapezoidal and/or rhomboidal design of the articulated sections, theelastic properties of the supporting belt are influenced. In particularthis permits tilting movements about an axis along the supporting belt.

The line guidance unit according to this invention for guiding lines,cables or the like has a channel which is formed at least in part by atleast one supporting belt. The supporting belt has alternatingsupporting sections and articulated sections. The supporting sectionsand the articulated sections are formed by materials having differentproperties in the multicomponent method. Due to this inventive design ofthe power [sic; line] guidance unit, this creates the possibility ofproviding a highly flexible line guidance unit, which is very adaptableto the intended application. The line guidance unit preferably has asupporting belt, which is designed according to one of Claims 1 through9. In particular, it is proposed that the channel be formed by segments,which are attached to at least one supporting belt. This reduces thespace required for installation of the line guidance unit.

It is possible for the segments to be connected to each supportingsection. This is not absolutely necessary. For example, selectedsupporting sections may be connected to segments. Several supportingsections may also be connected to just one segment. This has aninfluence on the rigidity of the line guidance unit which is especiallyimportant when a long line guidance unit is to be pushed together,compressed, stacked or rolled up and subjected to a compressive load.Due to the stiffening of multiple supporting sections, it is possible topredetermine the behavior of the line guidance unit under a compressiveload. In particular to achieve an especially tight packing of acollapsible line guidance unit, this can be correlated with how manylayers a line guidance unit forms when folded up.

For an easy adaptation of the line guidance unit according to thisinvention to different application cases, it is proposed that thesegments be connected to the supporting sections in a form-fittingmanner and/or in a frictionally engaged manner. In particular, it isproposed that the segments be detachably connected to the supportingsections. Instead of a detachable connection of individual segments tothe supporting sections, it is also possible for the segments to beinseparably connected to the supporting sections. This may beaccomplished by gluing or welding, for example.

In particular is it proposed that for detachable connection of thesegments to the supporting sections, these should have connecting means.The connecting means may be designed as clip arrangements or plugconnections.

Preferably a line guidance unit is proposed in which the segments haveside walls and each supporting section and/or at least one side wall hasa recess as the connecting means and/or has a first projection, thesebeing designed so that the first projection engages in the recess. Thiscreates the possibility of a simple and compact design of the lineguidance unit according to this invention. In particular this measuremakes it possible to adapt the line guidance unit to the particularconcrete application case according to a modular principle.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the line guidanceunit, it is proposed that at least one supporting section have a bushingrunning across the longitudinal direction of the supporting belt so thatat least one connecting element, which connects the side walls of asegment, passes through this bushing. This provides a modular design ofthe line guidance unit which has a high flexibility with regard todifferent application cases, whereby the number of components requiredto construct the line guidance unit is relatively small.

To simplify the assembly of the line guidance unit, according to yetanother advantageous embodiment of the line guidance unit according tothis invention it is proposed that at least one segment shall have sidewalls which are connected by a first transverse web. The side walls eachhave a second projection facing one another, whereby the supportingsection is arranged between the first transverse web and the secondprojections. By compressing the end areas of the side walls opposite thefirst and/or second projections, the distance between the projections isincreased, so that the belt can be inserted into the free space betweenthe first transverse web and the projections without requiringcomplicated handling.

Advantageously at least one segment has side walls connected by a secondtransverse web. The second transverse web contributes to the rigidity ofthe line guidance unit. It also produces a seal of the interior space ofthe line guidance unit in that the second transverse web essentiallycovers the segment. As an alternative, at least one segment has sidewalls, whereby at least one side wall has a partial web which faces theopposite side wall. With the help of the partial web, lines, the cableor the like may be easily inserted into the line guidance unit andremoved from it. With the help of a partial web it is also possible toincrease the distance between the projections by compressing the endareas of the side walls opposite the first and/or second projections inorder to thereby insert the supporting belt into the free space formedbetween the first transverse web and the projections.

Advantageously at least two adjacent segments each have a side wall,whereby at least the one side wall has an overlap area which overlapswith the other side wall. The overlap area may have two functions:first, it produces a seal between the segments, so that the lines, thecables or the like are less exposed to influences from the environment.Secondly, the overlap area results in an improved stability and inparticular a greater rigidity of the line guidance unit with respect tounwanted twisting or tilting of the segments relative to one another.

The overlap area is preferably designed to essentially have the shape ofan arc of a circle. The arc of the circle is preferably dimensionedaccording to the tilt angle of the supporting sections. The arc-shapedoverlap area results in a high rigidity and/or a good seal of the lineguidance unit while consuming very little material and reducing theweight of the line guidance unit.

In a special embodiment, the segments are connected to two supportingbelts. The supporting belts here are guided essentially in parallel. Dueto the parallel guidance of the supporting belts, comparatively wideline guidance units with only a low structural height may be formed. Inparticular, this makes it possible to save on material. The width of theline guidance unit may also be adapted to the respective applicationcase in this way.

The supporting belt according to this invention for a line guidance unitas well as the line guidance unit according to this invention may beused for both passive and active guidance of lines, cables or the like.In active guidance, the supporting belt and/or the line guidance unitmay be connected to corresponding devices or machine parts. Therefore,the line guidance unit has a first end which can be secured or isarranged in a stationary mount, and it has a second end which isconnected to the moving device. In a passive guidance, the ends of theline guidance unit are arranged in a stationary mount.

The method according to this invention for producing a supporting belt,in particular a supporting belt according to this invention, includesthe following steps: a sheet is formed from alternating supportingstrips and articulated strips, whereby the supporting strips and thearticulated strips are formed from materials having different propertiesin the multicomponent process; the sheet is divided into supportingbelts in a direction across the articulated strips. With the help ofthis method, a plurality of supporting belts may be producedsimultaneously in an effective manner. The supporting strips and thearticulated strips are advantageously produced according to themulticomponent injection method. As an alternative, the supportingstrips and the articulated strips are produced according to themulticomponent extrusion method.

To save on material and to increase the rigidity of the supportingstrips, the supporting strips are designed as profiles, preferably ashollow profiles.

Additional details and advantages of the supporting belt according tothis invention as well as the line guidance unit according to thisinvention are explained below on the basis of the exemplary embodimentsillustrated in the drawing, although the object of this invention is inno way restricted by these embodiments.

The drawings show schematically:

FIG. 1 a line guidance unit according to this invention in a perspectiveinclined view;

FIG. 2 a segment of the line guidance unit according to this inventionas shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective inclined view;

FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of the segment according to FIG. 2 in afront view;

FIG. 4 the segment according to FIG. 2 in a side view;

FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment of a segment for another line guidanceunit according to this invention in a perspective oblique view;

FIG. 6 a section of the supporting belt according to this invention in alongitudinal section;

FIG. 7 two sections joined together according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 an energy guidance unit according to this invention havingsegments according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 a segment according to FIG. 2 in a top view;

FIG. 10 an alternative embodiment of a side wall according to FIG. 4 ina side view;

FIG. 11 another supporting belt according to this invention in aperspective oblique view;

FIG. 12 an alternative supporting belt according to this invention in atop view;

FIG. 13 a sheet for producing a supporting belt according to thisinvention in a top view; and

FIG. 14 an energy guidance device according to this invention havingsegments as illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 1 shows a line guidance unit 2 according to this invention having asupporting belt 1 according to this invention in a perspective obliqueview, whereby the supporting belt 1 includes supporting sections 3 andarticulated sections 8 which are joined together with the help of a dualcomponent injection molding technique. To the supporting belt 1 areconnected segments 13, 13′ which have side walls 15, 15′ which form achannel 12 which can accommodate lines or cables or the like (notshown). Each side wall 15 is opposite another side wall 29. The sidewalls 15, 15′ each have a partial web 28 which extends in the directionof the opposite side wall 29. With the help of the partial webs 28 it isreadily possible to introduce lines or cables into the channel 12.

The supporting sections 3 are designed with a profile 23 which reducesthe weight of the supporting belt 1 and increases the rigidity of thesupporting section 3. The profile 23 includes a recess 16 to whichsegments 13, 13′ and/or side walls 15, 15′, 29 can be attached. The sidewalls 15, 15′, 29 have an overlap area 6 with which channel 12 is sealedat the side walls 15, 15′, 29 with a curvature of the line guidance unit2. The overlap area 6 also results in an additional stability of theline guidance unit 2 due to the fact that it can absorb lateral forcesapplied through the side walls 15, 15′, 29. FIG. 1 also illustrates abushing 25 running across the longitudinal direction of the supportingbelt 1 so that at least one, a connecting element connects the sidewalls 15, 15′ of a segment 13, 13′ by passing through this bushing 25.This provides a modular design of the line guidance unit which has ahigh flexibility with regard to different application cases, whereby thenumber of components required to construct the line guidance unit isrelatively small. The segments 13, 13′ are joined together with theoverlap sections 6 in a rotationally fixed manner about the longitudinalaxis of the supporting belt 1. Such a line guidance unit 2 can beproduced inexpensively in a simple manner and is characterized by agreat versatility and flexibility in use.

FIG. 2 shows the segment 13 according to FIG. 1 in a perspective obliqueview with side wall 15 and the opposite side wall 29 which are joinedtogether by a first transverse web 19 and form the channel 12. Thechannel 12 is also bordered by the partial web 28. The side walls 15, 29have the overlap region 6 with which the segment 13 can be attached toits adjacent segment 13′. Beneath the first transverse web 19 is a firstprojection 17 which can engage in the recess 16 of the supportingsection 3 of the supporting belt 1. Likewise beneath the firsttransverse web 19, the side walls 15, 29 each have a second projection26, 26′ facing one another, whereby the supporting section 3 can bearranged between the first transverse section 19 and the secondprojections 26, 26′.

FIG. 3 shows the segment 13 according to FIG. 2 in a front view, wherethe partial web 28 is designed as a second transverse web 27 so that thechannel 12 is completely closed. This also shows that the supportingbelt 1 may be secured between the second projections 26, 26′ and thefirst transverse web 19. The first projection 17, which engages in therecess 16 of the supporting belt 1, also contributes to this attachment.

FIG. 4 shows segment 13 according to FIG. 2 in a side view. This showsside wall 14 with the overlap area 6 for connecting the side wall 15 toan adjacent side wall.

FIG. 5 shows a segment that can be assembled in a perspective obliqueview with connecting means 15 formed by connecting elements 18 withwhich the side walls 15, 29 can be joined together. The supporting belt1 is clamped between the connecting element 18 and the second projection26 on its supporting section 13. A third projection 30, 30′ alsocontributes toward stabilization of the line guidance unit 2 in that athird projection 30 a segment 13 engages behind the third projection 30′of an adjacent segment 13′.

FIG. 6 shows a first section 4 of a supporting belt 1 according to thisinvention in a longitudinal section. The supporting sections 3 arejoined together by articulated sections 8, whereby the supportingsections 3 are designed as a profile 23.

FIG. 7 shows two sections which are joined together, namely a firstsection 4 and a second section 5 which are detachably jointed together.In this way the length of the supporting belt 1 can be lengthened orshortened depending on the application case. For detachable joining, afirst connecting piece 31 and a second connecting piece 32 are used;these pieces can engage in one another and can preferably be clippedtogether.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the line guidance unit 2according to this invention having segments 13 and side walls 15,whereby a first end 10 of the line guidance unit 2 can be secured at afixed location in space, and a second end 11 of the line guidance unit 2can be attached to a movable part, e.g., a robot arm (not shown).

FIG. 9 shows the segment 13 according to FIG. 2 in a top view, with sidewall 15 and the opposite side wall 19 from which a partial web 28extends to the other side wall 15, 29. The side walls 15, 29 haveoverlap areas 6, 6′ for stabilizing the line guidance unit 2 withrespect to rotation along a longitudinal axis of the supporting belt 1,i.e., with respect to tilting of two adjacent segments 13. The overlapareas 6, 6′ seal the channel 12 toward the side.

FIG. 10 shows a side wall with an alternative embodiment of the overlaparea 6, 6′, where the overlap area 6, 6′ is designed as an arc of acircle. This is especially advantageous when the supporting belt 1and/or the line guidance unit 2 is curved and thus the openings formedbetween segments 13, 13′ must be covered.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the supporting belt 1 according tothis invention, where the supporting sections 3 are designed as hollowtubes and the articulated sections 8 are designed as webs. The firstconnecting piece 31 is a receptacle for the second connecting piece 32.With the help of these two connecting pieces 31, 32, the supporting belt1 can be lengthened as desired or its length can be adapted. Thesupporting belt 1 can also be secured at its ends thereby.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the supporting belt 1 according tothis invention having supporting sections 3 and are articulated sections8, where the supporting section 3 and/or the articulated section 8 aredesigned to be trapezoidal and/or rhomboidal. A trapezoidal design ofthe supporting section 13 defines a certain path which the supportingbelt can assume in three-dimensional space. With a symmetricaltrapezoid, for example, the supporting belt 1 may execute a helicalmovement.

FIG. 13 shows a sheet 20 with which a plurality of supporting belts 1can be produced at the same time by the fact that such a sheet 20 withsupporting strips 21 and articulated strips 22 is either extruded orproduced by injection molding in a dual component process, and the sheet20 is cut into supporting belts 1 in a direction I across the supportingstrips 21 and/or articulated strips 22. The direction of this cut mayrun perpendicular to the supporting strips 21 and/or articulated strips22, but it may also run across the former. This results in trapezoidalarticulated sections 8 and supporting sections 3.

The supporting belt 1 according to this invention in a line guidanceunit 2 for active guidance of lines, cables or the like is characterizedin that the supporting belt 1 has alternating supporting sections 3 andarticulated sections 8, and the supporting sections 3 and articulatedsections 8 are made of materials having different properties by themulticomponent method. With the help of the supporting belt 1 accordingto this invention, the line guidance 2 according to this invention whichincludes such a supporting belt as well as the method according to thisinvention for producing the supporting belt 1 according to thisinvention, it is possible to achieve a guidance of lines, cables or thelike in a simple, rugged and inexpensive manner.

The supporting belt according to this invention and the line guidanceunit according to this invention are also suitable for active guidanceof lines, cables or the like. Line guidance units for active guidance oflines, cables or the like having a first end which is arranged in astationary mount, and having a second end which is movable are known innumerous embodiments. The traditional line guidance unit, which may alsobe referred to as an energy guidance chain, consists of individual chainmembers linked together in an articulated manner to form a guidancechannel. Lines, cables or the like are arranged in this guidancechannel. WO 98/40645 discloses a line guidance unit consisting ofone-piece protective elements made of plastic. The protective element isproduced by injection molding or casting in one piece and has partsconnected to one another by bendable bridges. The protective element hasa bottom segment having a top side and a bottom side and at least onewall segment which can be shaped into a closed channel section bybending and/or folding in the direction of the top side of the bottomsegment by mechanical closing of a closing mechanism, whereby theprotective element is preferably connected or connectable to othersimilar protective elements so that the channel sections form a channelfor lines in a longitudinal direction.

Another embodiment of a line guidance unit is known from EP 0 789 167A1. This line guidance unit is also used for active guidance of lines,cables or the like, having a first end which is arranged in a stationarymount and a second end which is movable. The line guidance unit has achannel formed by segments. The segments are connected to a supportingbelt. During operation of the line guidance unit, it and thus also thesupporting belt form a lower line trunk and an upper line trunk as wellas an area of curvature situated between the upper and lower linetrunks, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of WO 98/40645 and in FIG. 13 of EP0789167 A1.

FIG. 14 shows a line guidance unit for stationary guidance of lines,cables or the like. The line guidance unit has a supporting belt 1 whichcorresponds essentially to the embodiment of the supporting belt 1 inFIG. 11. However this is not necessarily the case. Other designs andembodiments of the supporting belt may also be implemented. The one endof the line guidance unit 2 has a bottom part 33. The bottom part 33 hasa fastening body 36. Two straps 34 extend away from the fastening body36 and are connected in a form-fitting manner and optionally in africtionally engaged manner to the supporting belt 1. Straps 34 haveconnecting means which engage in corresponding recesses in thesupporting belt 1. The bottom part 33 may be connected to a bottom. Todo so, the body 36 has boreholes 35. A supply opening 37 is provided forpassing lines through the bottom part 33. Multiple supply openings 37may also be provided so that it is possible to pass lines separatelythrough the bottom part 33.

The term bottom part is not limited to this part having to be connectedto a bottom. It is also possible for the bottom part to be connected toan Eden [sic; planar?] surface.

The opposite end of line guidance unit 2 has a fastening part 38. Thefastening part 38 is designed with a U shape in the embodimentillustrated here. The free legs 39 have connecting means (not shown) bymeans of which the fastening means 38 is connected to the supportingbelt. To secure the fastening part 38, corresponding openings areprovided in base 40 through which fastening means such as screws may bepassed.

The fastening part 38 is designed so that it is possible to secure thelines guided in the line guidance unit in a manner that relieves them oftensile stress.

Channel 12 is provided on both sides of the supporting belt 1. Thechannel 12 is bordered by the supporting belt 1 and by segments. Thesegments 13 have side walls 15 which extend toward both sides of thesupporting belt. The side walls 15 are designed with a curvature in theembodiment illustrated here. The opposite end faces of the side walls 15form an insertion gap 42 through which the lines can be introduced intoa channel or removed from it. The side walls 15 are preferably designedso that they have a certain elasticity, thereby facilitating theintroduction and removal of lines.

Segments 13 have connecting means. The connecting means are preferablysuch as those illustrated in FIG. 5.

Another embodiment of a line guidance unit is known from EP 0 789 167A1. This line guidance unit is also used for active guidance of lines,cables or the like having a first end which is arranged in a stationarymount and a second end which is movable. The line guidance unit has achannel which is formed by segments. The segments are connected to asupporting belt. During operation of the line guidance unit, it and thusalso the supporting belt form a lower line trunk and an upper line trunkas well as an area of curvature situated between the upper and lowerline trunks as illustrated in FIG. 1 of WO 98/40645 and in FIG. 13 of EP0 789 167 A1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NOTATION

-   1 supporting belt-   2 line guidance unit-   3 supporting sections-   4 first section-   5 second section-   6,6′ overlap area-   8 articulated section-   10 first end-   11 second end-   12 channel-   13, 13′ segments-   14 connecting means-   15, 15′ side wall-   16 recess-   17 first projection-   18 connecting element-   19 first transverse web-   20 sheet-   21 supporting strip-   22 articulated strip-   23 profile-   25 bushing-   26, 26′ second projection-   27 second transverse web-   28 partial web-   29 opposite side wall-   30, 30′ third projection-   31 first connecting piece-   32 second connecting piece-   33 bottom part-   34 strap-   35 borehole-   36 body-   37 supply opening-   38 fastening part-   39 leg-   40 base-   42 insertion gap-   I direction

1. A supporting belt for a line guidance unit for guiding lines, cablesor the like, the supporting belt comprising: a plurality of articulatedsections; and at least one supporting section disposed between andjoining a pair of articulated sections to form a belt section.
 2. Thesupporting belt of claim 1, wherein the supporting section and thearticulated sections are produced by multicomponent injection molding.3. The supporting belt of claim 1, wherein the supporting section andthe articulated sections are produced by multicomponent extrusion. 4.The supporting belt of claim 1 wherein the supporting section isdesigned as a profile.
 5. The supporting belt of claim 1 wherein thesupporting belt comprises at least two belt sections joined together. 6.The supporting belt of claim 5, wherein the belt sections are joinedtogether in a form-fitting manner.
 7. The supporting belt of claim 5wherein the belt sections are detachably joined together.
 8. Thesupporting belt of claim 1, wherein the supporting section istrapezoidal in cross-section.
 9. The supporting belt of claim 1, whereinthe articulated sections are each trapezoidal in cross-section.
 10. Aline guidance unit for guiding lines, cables or the like, line guidanceunit comprising a channel formed at least in part by at least onesupporting belt and the supporting belt comprising alternatingsupporting sections and articulated sections.
 11. The line guidance unitof claim 10, wherein the supporting belt supporting sections are formedby two injection molded components.
 12. The line guidance unit of claim10 wherein the channel comprises segments connecting to the supportingbelt.
 13. The line guidance unit of claim 12 wherein the segments areconnected to the supporting sections in a form-fitting manner.
 14. Theline guidance unit of claim 12 wherein the segments are detachablyconnected to the supporting sections.
 15. The line guidance unit ofclaim 12 wherein the segments and the supporting sections are joinedtogether.
 16. The line guidance unit of claim 15, wherein the segmentscomprise side walls, and each supporting section comprises a firstprojection adapted to engage a recess defined by a supporting section.17. The line guidance unit of claim 16, wherein at least one supportingsection comprises a bushing extending transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the supporting belt through which at least one connectingelement extends, for connecting the side walls of a segment.
 18. Theline guidance unit of claim 12 wherein at least one segment comprisesside walls and a first transverse web connecting the sidewalls andwherein the side walls each comprise opposing projections, whereby thesupporting section is disposed between the first transverse web and theopposing projections.
 19. The line guidance unit of claim 12 wherein atleast one segment comprises side walls which are connected by secondtransverse web.
 20. The line guidance unit of claim 12 wherein at leastone segment side walls and at least one side wall has a partial webwhich opposes the opposite side wall.
 21. The line guidance unit ofclaim 12, wherein at least two adjacent segments each comprise a sidewall and at least one side wall comprises an overlap area which overlapswith the adjacent side wall.
 22. The line guidance unit of claim 21,wherein the overlap area is arc-shaped.
 23. The line guidance unit ofclaim 12, wherein the segments are connected to two supporting belts.24. A method of producing a supporting belt, comprising the step of:forming a sheet from alternating supporting strips and articulatedstrips and the sheet comprises a plurality of supporting belts extendingin a direction (I) across the articulated strips.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 24, characterized in that the supporting strips andthe articulated strips are produced by a multicomponent injectionmethod.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the supportingstrips and the articulated strips are produced by a multicomponentextrusion method.
 27. The method according to claim 24 wherein thesupporting strips are designed as profiles.